226 The Flying^fish 



upon the capstan when last I saw him, dozing, I believe, 

 from the position of his head. Suddenly, as the 

 watch below and the unoccupied portion of the watch 

 on deck were chatting, prior to the former ' turning 

 in,' ' Cockney ' rushed into the forecastle howling 

 like a spanked brat, and holding both hands to the 

 side of his face, from which the blood was trickling 

 through his fingers. He caused quite a sensation 

 amongst us, for it looked as if he had been seriously 

 assaulted, and he, as soon as he could speak, plainly 

 declared that he had been, by the skipper's son, 

 who was second mate. He said that he was looking 

 out on the starboard bow, when the second mate came 

 up behind him and struck him so heavy a blow with 

 his fist that it knocked him off the capstan. 



As soon as he had recovered he rushed in to tell 

 us, and he expected us to go aft immediately and 

 make a row about it. But while he was thus expending 

 himself I examined his temple, finding indeed the marks 

 of a very heavy blow, blood and bruised flesh, and 

 also two or three fish-scales ! Saying to my ship- 

 mates, ' Hold on a minute,' I rushed up on to the 

 forecastle head, and sure enough, underneath one 

 of the stowed anchors, beside the cat-tail, I found the 

 aggressor, a splendid Fl5dng-fish, about a pound and 

 a half in weight, with its head almost driven into its 

 body. And, as a salve for his grievous woimd, I gave 

 it to the ' Cockney ' for his breakfast. 



In order that the Exocetus may indulge easily in 

 these aerial excursions, it is provided with a very 

 much enlarged swim-bladder, which, when inflated, 

 fills the whole cavity of the abdomen. There is also 

 in the mouth another bladder, which is filled with 

 air through the giUs, and both these inflations are 

 performed automatically at the moment the fish leaves 



